Collapsible barrel



C. KNOL.

COLLAPSIBLE BARREL.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-22.1918.

Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

QLARENCE KNOL, OF GRAND RAP-111$, MICHIGAN.

V COLLAPSIBLE anana Specification of Letters Patent.

' Application filed-January 22, 1918 Serial No. 213,139.

To all whom it may'conccrn:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE KNoL, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of lxent and State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCollapsible Barrels; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as Wlll enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to a collapsible receptacle, particularly abarrel, though it is to be understood that the invention is applicableto various types of receptacles other than barrels. and purpose of theinvention to make a receptacle of connected collapsible sections whichare adapted to nest one within the other when not in use, means beingprovided to hold the sections in extended position for completion of thereceptacle whenit is to be used. A further object and purpose of theinvention consists in the provision of a novel joint between thesections, such that when the receptacle is fully extended the joint issubstantially proof a ainst leaking, the receptacle thus being ac aptedto hold liquids as well as solid materials. The construction'by which Iat tain these ends is fully illustrated in the accompanying drawing, inwhich,

Figure 1 is a partial perspective and sec-' tional view of a collapsiblebarrel made in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan viewthereof.

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the sections of the barrel nesting onewithin the other, this being the position that they take when the barrelis collapsed, and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view illustrative of the joint betweenthe sections.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different views ofthe drawing.

In construction a central section 1 is used,

constructed preferably, of two parts 2 which have inwardly extendingabutting flanges 3, suitably connected by rivets or other permanentconnections. A plurality of additional sections 4. progressivelydecreasing in diameter are located above and below the central section1, and are of a width to be received and nested within the parts 2 ofthe central section when the barrel is collapsed. Suitable upper andlower ends 5 It is a primary object practically water Patented Nov.11,1919.

and 6 may be used to close the end sections of the barrel, though anydesired type of cover may be used as seems best.

Each of the sections at interlocks with an adjacent section, each lowersection being provided at its lower edge with an inwardly turnedU-shaped bend 7 extending entirely around the section, in which a-U-shaped' gasket 8 is located, while at its upper edge it is formed withan outwardly and downwardly turned U-shaped bend 9, the outer leg ofwhich terminates in an enlarged head 10 adapted to enter between thesides of the gasket 8 of the section next above. Thelower edge of thelower part 2 of the central section is likewise provided with aninturned U-shaped portion 7 for attachment ofthe adjacent section athereto. This construction is the same for the upper sections ofthebarrel except that the sections are reversed, as will be obvious.

A plurality of bars 11 are hinged, as indicated at 12, adjacent'both'the upper and lower edges of the central section- 1, the upper and lowerends of said bars being fashioned into rods 13. which are screwthreadedand are adapted to enter socket members 14: fixed on the uppermost andlowermost sections' of the barrel. A 'nut' 15 threads on to each rod'13and is adapted to associate with a socket member 1 1, as shown, it beingevident that by proper adjustment the sections may be fully andcompletely extended and drawn the parts 10 are brought tightly intoengagement with the gaskets 8, a firm and proof barrel being produced inthis manner.

l/Vhen the barrel is collapsed the various sections nest together, andthe bars 11, having been disconnected from the socket members 14, mayturn across the ends 5 and 6 of the barrel, on which suitable clips 16,adapted to receive the rods 13, are secured, normally preventing outwardmovement of the various sections.

The construction is relatively simple and may be made entirely of metal.For 'ship ping purposes the barrel may be collapsed to small compass andis held in collapsible position by engagement of the rods 13 with the 7clips 16. en in position for service the rigidity of the structure andtightness of the joints is controlled by the nuts 15 which may betightened as desired. It is of course apapart so that Y parent thatother types of receptacles may be made in accordance with the structureof this invention such, for instance, as either the upper or lower halfof the construction shown in Fig. 1, while different shapes and heightsof sections may be used. In practice, the sections it adjacent thecentral section abut against the flanges 3 and are stopped from passingtoo far inwardly on collapsing of the receptacle. On outward movement ofthe sections the joints automatically interlock, and the barrel is veryquickly and eas ily set up or collapsed.

.I claim:

i l. A collapsible receptacle comprised of a central section, aplurality of upper and lower sections adjustably connected to each otherand to the central section so as to be.

extended to form the sides of the receptacle or retracted to nest onewithin the other and all within the central section, a plurality ofbraces hingedly connected at the upper and lower edges of the centralsection, and at the outer sides thereof, means uppermost and lowermostsections with which said upper and lower braces are adapted todetachably connect, and means on the braces coacting with said means onthe sections for extending the sections and making tight joints betweenthe adjacent sections, substantially as described.

2. A collapsible receptacle comprising a lower section formed at itsupper edge with an inwardly and downwardly turned U- shaped annularbend, a plurality of sections of progressively diminishing size locatedabove the lower section, all except the uppermost section beingsimilarly to med at their upper edges, and all at their lower edgesbeing formed with an outwardly and upwardly turned U-shaped annular bendCopies of this patent may on the adapted to detachably interlock withthe bend at the upper edge of the next lower section, a plurality ofbraces hingedly connected at their lower ends to the upper part of saidlower section and at the outer sides thereof, socket members connectedto the uppermost section in which said braces are adapted to'seat attheir upper ends, and nuts on eachbrace, one above and the other belowits socket member for extending the sections and drawing them tightlyinto engagement with each other.

3. A construction containing the elements in combination claimed inclaim l, combined with a top to close the upper end or theup perniostsection, and clips on said top adapted to detachably receive said braceswhen the receptacle is collapsed and the braces turned over said top,substantially as.

described.

a. In combination, a central section provided with an annular inwardlyextending flange midway between its upper and lower edges, a series ofcollapsible sections connected together and to said central sectionabove and below said flange, detachable interlocking Ushaped bends atupper and lower edges of said sections adapted to interlock when thesections are extended, rigid CLARENCE 1 hon be obtained for five centseach, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

